Throughout the summer I’ve been posting on issues that have arisen as a result of a friend’s serious accident, hospitalization and very slow recovery. They’re currently grappling with finding a new sense of purpose in life, as some of the most meaningful things they were engaged in before the accident will no longer be possible.
While I’ve written about this several times, I was reminded by the recent passing of Jane Goodall of her comment You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. The difference that we make is definitely part of our purpose.
Study after study has shown that having a sense of meaning and purpose in life is important for overall health and well-being. It appears on just about every longevity characteristic list. So what do we mean by “life purpose,” and how do we go about finding it if we don’t think we have it or it needs to be readjusted.
What is purpose: According to researchers, a true purpose is one that is both personally meaningful and also makes a positive impact on the lives of others. So some steps to help you find it if you’re not sure about it or you need to redefine it given health issues etc.
• List the things you care most about: This can be family, education, environment, a specific organization, community etc. The skies the limit. List anything that comes to mind. I found 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose both entertaining as well as insightful.
• List the things you value: If you need help in sorting out what means the most to you, check out one of the following: the Valued Living Questionnaire, the Portrait Values Questionnaire, and the Personal Values Questionnaire.
• List the things you can do. Do you have a special skill that could be useful to someone? Do you have special assets such as a home or property that would be good entertaining; have disposable income. How do they mesh with your values? Remember that having a health or other issues doesn’t have to be viewed as a limit. In fact, it may be just the thing that can help someone.
If you feel unsure what you are good at, or what assets you have that maybe useful to others, ask family, friends, neighbors etc.
• Compare your lists: Where they match can help provide a way to act on what’s meaningful for you.
Additional Reads/Past Posts
• Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan
• We All Have Purpose Even When We Think We Don’t
• Do you feel that you matter?
Jane Goodall: Living a Life of Purpose
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